Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
By: Bob Di Cesare on 07/07/09 10:41 AM
In its former heyday, Ocean Edge Golf Club in Brewster played host to the New England PGA Championship for several years in the mid-80's and challenged golfers with its tight, narrow layout.
Times have certainly changed, and so has the golf course. The Nicklaus Design group came in and performed a remarkable $6 million makeover that has transformed Ocean Edge into a more user-friendly course. Last spring, it reopened as one of the few private courses on Cape Cod available exclusively for guest or member play that is adaptable for golfers of all skill levels.
Now officially known at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club, it is literally a one-stop haven for guests offering a variety of recreation, entertainment, and dining options. Also, as a member of the Troon Golf portfolio of private club facilities, Ocean Edge is positioning itself as a more family-oriented golf destination with more programs and value for those on a budget.
A par-72 layout with five sets of tees and a men's slope ranging from127 to 133, all of Ocean Edge's fairways and greens were reshaped and remodeled with the most significant changes being increased length and better playability. The course sports a brawnier, physical appearance with strategic bunkering, yet offers more shot-making opportunities befitting the lay of the land. The greens are large by New England standards, but play smaller because of the way they're shaped or sloped into sectors.
"We are a more challenging course for our members, but Ocean Edge is still fun and enjoyable for resort guests," said head golf professional Michael Medeiros, who was recently chosen by the NEPGA as merchandiser of the year in the resort category. "The new golf course is strategically accurate for all levels of play."
It's been my experience that the first hole of most golf courses I've played are either too easy or too hard. That's not the case at Ocean Edge as the 322-yard 1st hole is not too long, yet features plenty of rolling fairway and a sloped green. You definitely need to hit a good drive on the 376-yard 2nd hole to pass the dogleg right, making for a very manageable approach shot to the green.
The fun begins on the third hole, a par-3 that is only 163 yards in distance, but features a compact, southwest-to-northeast diagonal green. Nobody in my foursome landed on the green, then nobody could hold the green either while chipping from the fringe. It was tricky, but it was fun and different.
The par-5, 496-yard fourth hole is a great test. It's almost a ninety-degree, dogleg left with a huge waste bunker cradling the turn. Only the pros would have a shot at reaching in two here, but still a well-designed, challenging hole. On the 357-yard 5th hole, if you hit your approach shot over a steep bunker fronting the green, then you're in business with a golden birdie opportunity.
The other par-3 on the front side, the 8th hole (171 yards), offers another trick-or-treat green, this one featuring raised and sunken tiers. Then we encountered what we considered the toughest hole on the course at No. 9 – a treacherous, 544-yard, par-5 – that features all sorts of trouble. For starters, it's tight out of the tee box, and then there are two large bunkers in prime landing space on the right, leaving only narrow fairway on the left.
A big hitter may have a chance at cracking the second shot over a wide waste area that crosses the latter half of a rolling fairway. Other than that, most everyone will have to play up short of the brush, thereby leaving themselves a 200-180 yard third shot. My advice is to take your lumps on this hole, then refresh for the back nine.
The back side builds up excitement with each passing hole. The par-4 10th hole is similar to the 1st hole – not too hard, yet not too easy – at 383 yards. Clear the fairway bunker on the right side, and you've got just a little over 100 yards to tuck one in tight for a birdie try.
The 11th hole is the longest par-4 on the course at 418 yards, but it's fair with a straightaway drive and no fairway bunkers. A good test for a long iron or hybrid on the approach to the green.
No. 14 is only 316 yards, but it is quite difficult to navigate. From the tee, there is a very small landing area sandwiched between two large bunkers left/center and water on the right. Then it's a steep, uphill climb to an undulating green surrounded by thick rough. The view, however, is quite nice looking back toward the fairway.
The 17th and 18th holes pack quite a solid, one-two punch to close out a round. No. 17 is the longest hole on the course at 559 yards and gradually turns its way from right-to-left like a semi-circle. Basically, you have to give it everything you've got from tee to green, avoiding a couple of fairway bunkers and positioning your way along the expansive, rolling terrain.
The par-4, 18th hole is shorter at 347 yards, but from the tee you still have to carry an abundance of fescue and some fairway bunkers before you face a 145-130 yard, uphill approach shot to an elevated green.
For hard-core golfers, Ocean Edge's unlimited golf package is the right choice. Players can tee off from dawn to dusk and save up to 60 percent. Included are cart, use of the practice range, yardage book, daily breakfast, and spacious accommodations in a one-bedroom villa. Valid through November 29, 2009, the stay-and-play nightly rates start at $175 for single occupancy and $235 for double occupancy.
For golfing adults looking to spend time with their kids on the links, Ocean Edge offers family tee times after 4 p.m. where kids under-10 can play on the greens for free. For families enjoying an extended stay, golf clinics and lessons are available through the Linx Golf Shop with the resort's team of PGA professionals, including junior clinics for children ages 6-17.
When not playing golf, there are plenty of activities and amenities to enjoy such as indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, basketball court, volleyball court, and the popular Ocean Edge Venture Kid's Camp. There's even croquet on the lawn in front of historic Nickerson Mansion, which was built in 1912.
Those looking for exploration can venture out onto the 26-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail, which is perfect for biking (rentals available on property). There's also a state-of-the-art fitness center featuring daily exercise classes and a spa treatment room. Ocean Edge also has a 700-foot private beach, four on-site restaurants, and a shuttle service which runs a continuous loop around the property every 15 minutes.
Whether it's during the heat of summer or the splendor of the fall foliage season, Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club offers something for everyone, with a special emphasis on Cape Cod's only Nicklaus Design golf course.
For more information, visit www.oceanedge.com/golf or call 800-343-6074.
